Redemption In Your Eyes

Monsters

Ascending the stairs, Sakura moved silently in bare feet. She felt the gentle give of the wood, but it didn't creak and announce her presence. The door to Aster's room was open, gray light spilling onto the floor from the window inside. Pausing in the doorway, she held her breath. Hand pressed to the glass, Aster's back was to her. The rain pounded on the sill and ceiling. The trees behind the house stretched into the horizon, tinting their reflections. Worry was clearly etched into Aster's face. Unsure how to break the spell, Sakura listened to the pattering of the rain.

Finally, she knocked on the door frame. Jumping at the sound, Aster turned, unaware she had been observed. Wordlessly, Sakura picked up the blanket on the bed and handed it to her. Hesitating, Aster took the coverlet and pulled it around her shoulders. Sakura couldn't help but notice her face was thinning again.

"Let me get you a chair," she said and left to return with the item.

Aster's heart dropped. She could feel weakness seeping into her bones. The chair was not an option, but a necessity. Running her knuckles down the cold pane, she wished she could be back out in the field again. I just need to know you're all safe...

The masked tiger creature laid eyes on Naruto, blindly sensing his chakra. Moving quickly, Naruto put himself in front of Hinata. The creature followed his movements with its head and began to lumber towards them, effectively blocking the rest of the team. Its footfalls left singed paw marks. With a speed belied by its slow steps, the beast bellowed fire over them. Hinata had warning, being able to see the gathering chakra in its mouth. Wrapping her arms around Naruto's waist, she threw both their bodies to the left as the heat singed their cheeks.

Untangling themselves, Naruto panted, "That shambling thing is faster than it seems."

"I can see it's chakra..." She pulled a kunai. "I can see its attacks before they happen and I can see its heart."

"Enough said," he replied, standing and pulling her up. "Be my eyes... I'll distract it so you can deliver the final blow."

Whipping her arm in arc, Hinata threw the kunai. The monster didn't try to dodge. Hitting squarely between the eyes, the kunai stuck and cracked the mask. Frozen in horror, they watched the creature begin to inhale.

"Dodge!" She called out, grabbing his hand.

Another stream of flames decimated the forest behind them, heat pounding on their backs and light blinding them. Spinning, Naruto formed a rasengan in his hand as the creature readied another mouthful of fire.

"No!" She pulled them both out of the way of another blazing tunnel. "That jutsu uses wind chakra- it'll amplify its attacks."

"Time to get old school then," he grinned. "Kage bushin no jutsu!" Suddenly there were ten of him. "Attaaaack!"

The horde of Narutos set about slashing and stabbing the beast with their kunai. The creature roared and took out a clone with its tail and another by clawing it neck to groin. The gashes set the wires splitting and whipping out like lashes. Two more clones succumbed to the handiwork of their own attacks. Behind him, Hinata settled deep into her gentle fist stance. Rushing in, she made to pierce the heart in its stomach. Instead the beast turned and struck her across the face with its tail.

Hinata tumbled away from the fray, her face steaming from the burn. Naruto screamed, his rage getting the better of him.The remaining clones dispersed. Ninetails chakra leaked from the seal and enveloped him, bubbling and boiling. His fingers became claws. Pulling herself up and clutching her burn, Hinata watched in horror. The regenerating powers of the kyuubi made Naruto near invincible. He clawed into the creature and it sent wires out, lashing at him.